Tire-building machine



F. 'c. MORTON.

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1918.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Mink

- 'rso FREDERIC C. MORTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

TIRE-BUILDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1918. 80119.11. 257,593.

I To all whom it may cogwem Be it known that I, FREDERIC C. Moa'roN, a citizen of the United States, and resldent of New Haven, Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tire-Build- .ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the manu- .facture of pneumatic tire carcasses and is embodied in an implement adapted to be used in connection with a rotatable core for the purpose of shaping a strip of fabric which has been previously laid on the surface of the core, so that the sides of the said strip conform to the sides of the core in the shape of the finished tire shoe.

The purpose of the invention is to facil tate the shaping of the carcass by what 15 practically a manual operation, this being desirable, in view of the fact that a certam amount of skill is required in the proper shaping of the fabric; and such manual operation is also desirable since it avoidscomplicating the machinery.

It has been found that in shaping the sides of a strip of fabric to a rotating core, the process which apparently brings about the best result is that in which a contacting device of suitable form or construction is pressed against the fabric on the core while the core is rotating and, at the same time, is

gradually moved toward the axis of rotation of the core so that the point of contact between the contacting device and the fabric takes the form of a long spiral line of contact progressively engagin the fabric and pushing down the loose fa ric before it, so as to bring every portion thereof into conformity with the side of the core upon which the fabric is beingshaped. It is necessary in this process therefore, in view of the fact that the sides of the core are convex, that the contacting device should be continually pressed against the surface of the fabric on the core while it is being moved toward the axis of rotation of the core; and in view of the convex shape of the core, a spring or other yielding force can conveniently be used to provide for this element in the compound movement of the contacting device. It is obvious, however, that even this automatic element might be dispensed with; and the construction shown is such that the attendant can augment or diminish the action of the sprmg if it seems to be desirable.

The movement toward the axis of rotation of the core, however, can be a positive and unyielding movement and in view of the fact that a careful observation of the fabric whlle it is being laid on the core is desirable, this movement can be taken care of manually by the attendant advantageously and without unnecessary loss of time. In fact, the process can be successfully carried out entlrely by hand, using any suitable implement which can be held against the fabric and manually moved gradually toward the nner periphery of the core, while the core 15 rotating, but it is difiicult to hold any such implement withsufiicient steadiness to treat all parts of the fabric alike.

The implement embodying the present invention is so arranged as to be held stead in a certain definite relation to the core, a though subject to all the movements neces sary for the manual operation.

consists of a spinning-in device consisting of a frame or holder for the actual contacting device, which is arranged so as to be held at one point in a certain definite position with relation to the core; the means-for holding sald frame, however, being such that the contacting device itself is capable of all the movement necessary to follow the surface of the fabric in the shaping operation.

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofan implement embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said implement, showing it in conjunction with a rotating core upon which a strip of fabric has been laid, the extreme positions of the implement being shown in full and dotted lines respectively; and

Fig. 3 is a side view of the core and implement in the position shown in Fig.2. Referring to Fig. 1, the implement embodying the invention consists of an arm or lever 1 which constitutes the main frame or support for the contacting device 2 which is herein shownas a thin wheel or disk, the periphery of which is adapted to bear against Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

To these ends the implement aforesaid" I the surface of the fabric on the core. This contacting device is mounted on a spindle 3 which forms part of a secondary lever or support 4, provided with a manipulating handle 5. The said lever 4 is pivotally connected to the lever 1 as shown at 6 and is yieldingly held substantially at right angles to said lever 1 through the agency of a spring 7 shown as connected at one end with a portion 8 of the main lever 1; and at the other end with the lever 4.

The normal position of the lever 4 is de termined by a stop 9 on said lever 1. The said lever 1, which has previously been described as constituting the main frame or holder for the contacting device 2, is arranged to be held in a certain fixed position with relation to the shaping core 10, having, however, a certain freedom of movement around said fixed support to provide for the necessary movement of the contacting device in shaping the fabric.

As herein shown, the said lever 1 is provided with a hub 12 which is adapted to be mounted on a spindle 13 which is fixed with relation to the core, the lever having obviously, provision for a pivotal or rocking movement around said spindle.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is obvious that as the lever 1 is moved to the right, that is, toward the axis of rotation of the core 10, the contacting device 2 will travel also toward the axis of the core and will be held in engagement with the fabric thereon by the action of the spring 7. As the angle of the lever 1 changes, the spring will continue to act as shown in dotted lines, while the angle of inclination of the contacting device will also change so that it will be in a favorable position throughout its travel to engage and smooth down the surface of the fabric, the spring at the same time being continually more and more distended so as to exert more and more pressure against the fabric as it is pushed into contact with the core.

, In using the implement, the principal mechanical force involved is supplied by the spring 7 and the manual operation is not diflicult, although the movement is absolutely under the control of the attendant so that any defects in the fabric or wrinkles formed in the smoothing down of the fabric can be immediately detected, and the operation stopped, if necessary, for the purpose of layin on each strip of fabric in perfect conformity with the core.

As is obvious from the drawings, the implement as constructed and having the pivot socket 12 is reversible, so that as soon as one side of the fabric has been smoothed down it is necessary only to lift the implement from the pivot pin 13 and replace it turned upside down in order to repeat the process on the opposite side of the strip.

The construction is such, moreover, that the implement cannot twist in the operators hands, and can be held steady in its gradual movement toward the axis of rotation of the core, thus progressively engaging the fabric throughout the operation.

What I claim is:

1. An implement for shaping fabric upon a rotatable core, comprising a tool carrying arm pivoted to swing as a unit about an axis fixed with u'elation to the core and invertible upon its pivot to position the tool upon either side of the core said arm comprisingrelatively swingable portions normally held in yielding angular relation as the tool is pressed against the fabric.

2. An implement for shaping fabric upon a rotatable core, comprising a tool carrying arm pivoted to swing as a unit about an axis fixed with relation to the core and invertible upon its pivot to position the tool upon either side of the coresaid arm comprising relatively swingable portions normally held in yielding angular relation as the tool is pressed against the fabric said portions being limited in their relative swinging movement in one direction.

3. A device for shaping tire fabric on a tire forming core, and a mounting for said device said mounting being pivoted at a point fixed in relation to the core and invertible upon its pivot to position the device upon either side of the core as desired.

4. An implement for shaping tire fabric to a rotatable tire forming core which comprises a contacting device; means support- 1ng said contacting device, and manually operable tomove said device laterally toward and away from the'core and a pivotal mounting for said means said mounting being movable to adjust the device radially of the core and invertible upon its pivot to position said device to operate upon either side of the core asdesired.

5. A11 implement for shaping tire fabric to a rotatable tire forming core which comprises, a contacting device operable against the side face of the core, a pivoted lever yieldably mounted for adjusting the contactlng device lateraily toward and away from the side face of the core, and a mounting for said pivoted lever said mounting being pivoted to swing in 'a horizontal plane, to move said contacting device radially of the core and invertible upon its pivot whereby said device is positioned to contact against either side of the core as desired.

6. An implement for shaping tire fabric to a rotatable tire forming core which comprises, a contacting device operable against the side face of the core, a pivoted lever for manually adjusting the contacting device laterally toward and away from the side face of the core, a horizontally swingable mounting for said pivoted lever, said mounting being pivoted at a point fixed in relasigned my name in the presence of two tion to said core, and invertible todposiitipln subscribing Witnesses. t e device in contact with either si e 0 t e core as desired, and a contractile spring FREDERIC MORTON 5 connecting said pivoted lever and said Witnesses:

mounting. OLIVER E. LAPHAM, In witness whereof, I have hereunto RALPH E. GILLIs. 

